Apply Armour Check Penalty to REF save... why not?

[benshearon]

do you use reflex checks to avoid falling into a pit trap?

Yes -which is where I was coming from originally with this... can't see the guy in full plate leaping nimbly back from the suddenly collapsing floor

On the other hand I can see the increased cover compensating for reduced mobility...

Still not 100% decided.

 

[MatthewJHanson]

I side with the folk that say don't add a further penalty, but I also want to add that if you did want to have armor affect reflex saves, it might be better to apply the Max Dex of the armor to that instead of the armor check penalty. That way the guy who is already an uncoordinated oaf is not further penalized, but the normally agile swashbuckler would be hampered.

 

[Odysseus]

I think to make the idea work. Armour would have to reduce damage. Which it does in systems like the conan rpg. However with D&D I don't thinks its a practical idea.

 

[Nifft]

If you choose to make ACP apply to Reflex saves, consider adding one's Shield bonus to Reflex saves vs. burst or spread effects.

Pits still suck Fighters in, but Dragon breath can be blocked. All archtypes are appeased.

-- N

 

[Grazzt]

No, max dex limit the Dex bonus to reflex save too, and i would say reflexive skills too.

Incorrect (unless you as DM inact a Rule 0 ruling that says otherwise). Max Dex ONLY affects the Dex bonus to AC. Check Knight's post above...I believe he quoted the section in the PHB/SRD that mentions this.

 

[Crothian]

While I like the idea, it will just make armor worse then it is and in high level games I'm already seeing people abondon armor in faovr of other protections.

 

[The Souljourner]

Why? Anyone who wears heavy armor already has a crapass reflex save. Why punish them more?

-The Souljourner

 

[GreatLemur]

Balance aside, I think it's pretty undeniable that this rule just makes sense. But it's also pretty undeniable that balance can't just be left aside. I think this modification sounds great, as long as heavy armor is compensated in some way.

Also, like Nifft said, this whole idea seems a lot less brutal in an armor-as-DR system. At least that way, after your clunky plate armor drags your ass into a pit trap, it will also protect you from the fall.

 

[Veril]

Heavy armour is already very disadvantageous to wear compared to all the other forms of AC. the penalties to skills, the reduced movement rate etc.

The classes who can wear heavy armour already have craptastic reflex saving throws, and will have generally chosen lower Dex when designing their characters - knowing they are going to be limited by their armour.